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Friday, September 18, 2026
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Bermuda drawn in Group AC for inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup
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Bermuda’s Under-15 national team have been drawn alongside European heavyweights Poland and Georgia for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan.
The young Bermuda team face a genuinely global test in Group AC, where they will also take on regional neighbours the British Virgin Islands, southern African side Namibia, and central African outfit São Tomé and Príncipe.
The ground-breaking tournament, set to run in Baku from October 22nd to 31st 2026, marks the debut of Fifa's new flagship youth competition. Designed to provide member associations of all sizes with elite international exposure, the event will see over 3,000 players and officials descend on Azerbaijan for an expansive 8v8 format across six matchdays.
For Bermuda's emerging prospects, the draw offers an unprecedented shop window against contrasting football cultures and styles. European stalwarts Poland and a technically sharp Georgia side will present formidable hurdles, while encounters against Namibia and São Tomé and Príncipe provide rare cross-confederation tests ahead of a familiar Caribbean showdown with the BVI.
The tournament begins with a qualification group phase to determine subsequent placement tiers, ensuring every nation plays meaningful fixtures throughout the festival.
Action gets under way next month, with Bermuda's next generation preparing to carry the flag on the world stage.
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Wednesday, September 09, 2026
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BOA Leadership Attends Panam Sports General Assembly in Lima
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Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) President Peter Dunne and Secretary General Branwen Smith-King represented the island at the 64th Panam Sports General Assembly in Lima, Peru.
With major multisport milestones on the horizon—notably the Lima 2027 Pan American Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games—the meetings ensured Bermuda remains deeply integrated in high-level discussions shaping athlete development, funding, and international qualification pathways across the Americas.
The assembly served as the centerpiece of Panam Sports’ inaugural Sports Week, convening National Olympic Committee presidents, secretary generals, athlete representatives, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.
Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg addressed delegates on day two of proceedings. Lindberg provided updates on preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, emphasizing the expansion of the PEAK Uniform programme—set to support 50 NOCs in Dakar following its initial rollout at Milano Cortina 2026.
Lindberg also detailed logistical planning for the upcoming XXVIII ANOC General Assembly in Hong Kong, scheduled for December 7th – 10th, where a new ANOC President will be elected.
Earlier in the week, delegates engaged in five focused roundtables covering the evolution of the Pan American Games, athlete-centred policy, governance, NOC development, and commercial sustainability. The week’s programme also featured dedicated sessions on athlete safeguarding and the Women in Sport Forum.
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Tuesday, September 01, 2026
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Bermuda Delegation get Update on LA28 NOC Games Preparation
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ANOC participated in the Americas LA28 NOC Games Preparation Forum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which brought together National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from across the continent to advance preparations for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
To facilitate participation and exchange, the Forum was delivered in two sessions: Spanish-speaking NOCs met on August 17th–18th , followed by the English-speaking NOCs on August 20th–21st.
Bermuda was represented by Vice President Brandon Sousa and Secretary General Branwen Smith-King
The Forum was opened by Garibaldy Bautista, President of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee, alongside welcome remarks from Joanna Zipser-Graves Olympic Solidarity Associate Director and Jimena Saldaña, Secretary General of Panam Sports, who highlighted the importance of providing NOCs with the information, tools and support needed as they prepare their delegations for LA28.
ANOC was represented by Andres Santi, Senior Project and Event Manager, who supported the IOC and Panam Sports representatives throughout the Forum and contributed to the coordination and knowledge-sharing opportunities for participating NOCs.
A team from LA28 provided NOCs with important updates on preparations for the Games, covering key areas including the LA28 Master Plan, sport programme, Olympic Villages, accommodation, transport, ticketing, accreditation and the Delegation Registration Process.
The Forum was designed as an interactive exchange, with NOCs complementing the presentations by sharing case studies and experiences across different areas of Games preparation. Representatives from the IOC and Panam Sports also provided information on their respective programmes and support available to NOCs.
As part of the programme, Mr Santi presented a number of ANOC initiatives that will support NOCs in the lead-up to and during LA28, including the ANOC-PEAK Uniform Programme, the Digital Content Hub and the ANOC.tv Studio. These initiatives will provide practical support while helping NOCs strengthen their visibility and digital content around the Games.
The Forum provided an important opportunity for NOCs across the Americas to coordinate, exchange knowledge and translate the latest LA28 information into their own Games preparation strategies, with the athlete experience at the centre of planning.
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Monday, August 31, 2026
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Wins Best International Film at 2026 BronzeLens Film Festival
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Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story has won Best International Film at the 2026 BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta, adding another major honor to the documentary chronicling the extraordinary life and legacy of Bermudian football legend Clyde Best, the first Black superstar in English football.
The award was presented Sunday evening, August 30, during the 17th Annual BronzeLens Awards at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College.
BronzeLens Founder and Executive Producer Kathleen Bertrand reflected on the enduring message of Best’s journey:
“Clyde’s journey inspires us all to overcome adversity through excellence,” said Bertrand.
Accepting the award onstage, director and producer Dan Egan reflected on the responsibility of bringing Best’s story to the screen.
“It’s been the honor of my life to be trusted to tell Clyde’s story,” said Egan.
The BronzeLens recognition adds to a growing list of honors for the documentary. Earlier this summer, the film received the Audience Favorite Award at the Roxbury International Film Festival.
A Return to Atlanta
The BronzeLens recognition also marks a return to Atlanta for Best and the documentary.
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Transforming the Beautiful Game was featured in a special two-night engagement at Atlanta’s Loudermilk Conference Center on July 13 and 14, presented in partnership with BronzeLens and Soccer in the Streets. Clyde Best appeared in person in connection with the screenings.
The visit generated significant Atlanta media attention. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured Best and his groundbreaking career, while Best also appeared on Atlanta television news discussing his journey, legacy and the documentary.
Just weeks after those screenings, the film returned to Atlanta as an official BronzeLens selection and was recognized as the festival’s Best International Film.
From Bermuda to English Football History
Transforming the Beautiful Game chronicles Best’s journey from Bermuda to England, where he arrived as a teenager and joined West Ham United, making his first-team debut at just 17.
Best persevered through extraordinary racism to become the first Black superstar in English football, helping change the landscape of the English game and opening doors for generations of Black players who followed.
His career later brought him to North America, where he continued playing professionally and became an important figure in the growth of soccer in the United States.
More than a sports documentary, the film explores race, courage, perseverance, excellence and social change, examining how a young man from Bermuda helped transform the beautiful game.
Fall Festivals, Bermuda Encore Tour and Education
The BronzeLens recognition comes as the documentary continues a robust fall film festival schedule across the United States, building on a 2026 journey that has taken the film from London and Bermuda to Tampa Bay, Boston, New York and Atlanta.
The film will return home to Bermuda this October for a special Encore Tour, giving audiences another opportunity to experience Best’s story on the big screen.
The film’s impact in Bermuda will also extend into education. In association with CURB, educational initiatives connected to the film will be rolled out in Bermuda schools, using Best’s journey to engage students in discussions about perseverance, racial equality, excellence and overcoming adversity.
Current festival dates, Bermuda Encore Tour screening times and tickets are available at ClydeBest.com
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Saturday, August 29, 2026
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Islandstats Searching for Additional co-hosts for Football Show
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Bermudian sports media outlet Islandstats.com has launched an open recruitment call for two presenters to join the desk of its weekly football show for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
The platform is seeking passionate football minds to front its dedicated weekly broadcast, which will air live every Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm throughout the domestic season.
Weekly debate and match analysis
The one-hour Sunday evening slot will serve as a hub for local and international football coverage, featuring lively panel debates, tactical breakdowns of weekend domestic clashes, and in-depth previews of upcoming fixtures across the island's football calendar.
Prospective presenters are expected to bring sharp analysis, strong local football knowledge, and an engaging on-screen presence to drive conversations across the show’s digital and social media broadcasts.
Islandstats.com has invited interested candidates ready to step behind the microphone and discuss the beautiful game to reach out and register their interest ahead of the season opener.
email : info@islandstats.com
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